Blankets do more than just keep you warm. They turn your living room and bedroom into a cozy, relaxing haven. To optimize your relaxation, you need several different types of blankets. Here’s a rundown of the different types of blankets you need to stay cozy in any temperature, room, or mood.
Types of Blankets for Your Bed
To make your bed a temple of sleep, you need to invest in blankets that provide the right pressure, warmth, and texture. Consider your style and your sleeping temperature to know which of these blankets should be on your bed.
1. Duvets and Comforters
Let's start with whether to choose a duvet or comforter. Both are designed to be on top of other blankets you may use on your bed. They can vary in thickness and fill, so there are options for everyone. Here are some of the major differences between different types of blankets.
Duvets
- Not quilted
- Designed to be used without a top sheet
- Traditionally down blankets
- Require a duvet cover to protect against the quill end of the down poking through
- Allow for you to change the style and color of your blanket without investing in a whole new blanket
Comforters
- Generally quilted. The quilting can vary in size
- Designed to be used with other blankets
- Can be filled with down or synthetic materials
Comforters and their fancy European cousins, duvets, provide a luxuriously deep and fluffy bed covering. They can get very warm, so if you are a hot sleeper, these are not the blankets for you.
2. Weighted Blankets
Weighted blankets are the ultimate sleep tool. Designed to give you deep pressure stimulation, weighted blankets relax the nervous system, boost serotonin, and help you fall and stay asleep faster. This blanket is a must-have for chronic poor sleep sufferers or anyone who wants deeper, more restful sleep.
Weighted blankets can be used in place of a top blanket or along with other types of blankets. Make sure you’re taking weight recommendations and restrictions into account when deciding how heavy your weighted blanket should be. Weighted blankets are often either mink and microfiber.
You might also consider a weighted cooling blanket for warm weather. Designed to keep air circulating and pull heat away from you, weighted cooling blankets are a great option for sleepers who want the comfort of a heavy blanket but not the heat. Suitable fabrics for cooling weighted blankets are bamboo or cotton because of their moisture-wicking abilities.
3. Heated
Heated blankets are another type of blanket you should consider, especially if you experience winter weather.
Heated blankets, or electric blankets, have wires built into the fabric to warm the blanket. They help you maintain your body temperature while you sleep. This is important because when your temperature yo-yos, you are more likely to wake up. A constant temperature, however, keeps your body in sleep mode.
These blankets are usually made from polyester microfiber, other synthetic fibers, or fleece, as these fabrics are warmer.
You can choose a wired blanket that needs to remain plugged in while you’re snuggling under it, or you can have a cordless option that is more portable (remember to charge it). Both are useful. To choose, consider how you’ll likely use it. If you are going to use it primarily as a bedspread, perhaps a corded option is best. If you’re going to huddle under it during hockey games, choose the cordless option.
4. Quilt
Quilts are both a type of blanket and a method of sewing. These types of blankets are made of three layers of fabric: the woven top and bottom and the inner layer. The top layer of woven fabric is made by sewing smaller pieces of colorful fabric together. Then, all three layers are “quilted” together to make a warm blanket option.
While styles can vary, quilts are typically flatter than comforters, and the designs are often more intricate. Hand-made quilts are often considered works of art and can be luxury (or even collectors’) items. To keep the design integrity, you want to look for a quilt that is made from high-quality cotton fabric for the blanket material.
5. Vellux
Vellux is a man-made material made from polyurethane foam, adhesive, and nylon fibers. The foam and the limited number of materials make it warm, light. However, it's also sturdy and durable.
This type of blanket can be found everywhere from sheets to throws. It also can come in multiple colors, so fitting your decor won’t be an issue.
Best Fabrics For Thin Blankets (Coverlets)
Coverlets are thin bed blankets that add comfort and luxury to your bedding. You may not need that thin blanket at the edge of your bed, but its texture and color really tie the room together.
Choose a coverlet fabric that fits your personal preference:
- Cotton: Cotton blankets are super common and are made from a natural material. The breathability of cotton keeps you from overheating, especially during warmer months. Cotton is hypoallergenic, which makes it a great choice for people who may have skin sensitivities. It is more expensive than other types of blankets, but it can last a long time if cared for properly.
- Bamboo: Bamboo blankets hit the cross-section of sustainability and usefulness. Bamboo is renewable and strong, which means bamboo blankets are affordable and durable. They are also hypoallergenic, so they are a good choice for people who suffer from allergies or need to take special care of their sensitive skin. They are also antibacterial. Bamboo is a highly breathable material, which makes them more comfortable.
- Microfiber: Microfiber blankets are made from blended fabric, usually with polyester as the base. Because it is a synthetic material, it breathes less than cotton, so it retains more heat. It’s also more affordable than cotton. They also come in a wide range of different colors.
Different Types of Throw Blankets
Throw blankets are wonderful additions to your decor. Tossed over the back of a chair or stacked in a basket beside the couch, throw blankets invite you and your guests to get cozy. They lend an air of comfort and ease to your room. Plus, they're always around to wrap you in warmth whenever — and wherever — you need it.
Throws are usually smaller than traditional bed-size blankets and are often made from different materials. Having multiple throws in a variety of fabrics and textures turns your couch into a wonderful Hygge experience.
1. Chenille
Chenille is one of the softest fabrics. It is named for the French word “caterpillar,” and it is easy to see why. It’s made by sewing silken fabric into another fabric, which gives it more vertical fibers and a raised effect. While cotton is typically used to make chenille blankets, synthetic fabrics can be used too.
Its super-softness makes chenille a popular fabric. Chenille throws offer a mid-level amount of warmth with abundant lightness. Another benefit of these types of blankets is you can machine wash them and keep the softness intact.
2. Sherpa
Sherpa is a faux wool synthetic, which makes it fairly affordable. The synthetic materials used are usually acrylic and nylon. The fibers are gathered and bundled to resemble wool. Sherpa makes for a warm blanket, and it also has the ability to wick away moisture from your body.
3. Wool
Wool blankets are typically made from sheep, alpaca, or goat hair. They are very warm blankets. The natural fibers are absorbent, so they keep you dry, which makes sense. Wool can irritate skin, and some people experience allergic flares to the fiber. If you want the warmth of wool without the itch, consider springing for a cashmere blanket.
4. Afghan
Afghan blankets can be made from a range of fibers and are usually crocheted or knitted. Their warmth, heaviness, and breathability depend on the fabric and density of construction. Afghans can come in bright, bold colors or muted, neutral tones. All of them add coziness to a room, whether tossed over the back of an accent chair or the edge of the bed.
Get Ready to Snuggle With a Weighted Blanket
Keeping a variety of blankets, especially a few of the most popular types, will give you year-round relaxation options. Whether you want to stay warm and cozy on cold winter nights or snuggle up but stay cool during the summer, there's an option for you.
Let's be honest — when you reach for a blanket, you're really looking for comfort. The perfect blanket for this is a weighted blanket. With deep pressure stimulation therapy, it gives you all the feelings of warmth and safety as a big hug. Trust us — you'll be hanging onto your blanket like Linus.
If you haven't used a weighted blanket before, our weighted throw blanket is a great option to start with. It's easy to bring to different rooms in the house, and you can wear it any time, from your morning meditation to your evening cup of tea.
